Thoughts on lightened flywheels and clutch disks, For performance motor Options

[Boomingbeetle]

I have a 2270 motor that I will eventually be putting into my '71 with a sideshift tranny, once I get some dress-up and parts collected. It does not currently have a flywheel, clutch, or pressure plate.

1. Is there a benefit to finding a lightened flywheel if the motor has lighter internals?

2. I assume I should use a 6-spring clutch disk or an aftermarket performance material, but maybe this isn't necessary for a 150-HP/TQ motor? Ditto for the pressure plate.

[stugray]

I posted this on another thread just the other day:

"Lightening the rotating mass does not necessarily give more horsepower.
Reducing the rotating mass of the engine gives an almost negligible difference as compared to removing the mass from anywhere else on the vehicle.

So removing mass from the rotating assembly is the lowest ROI as far as lbs/$$ goes.
Now if you are building a race car from the ground up then, by all means, reduce weight wherever you can, including the engine.

The best reason for reducing rotating mass is to minimize the forces on the crank and allow higher RPMs.
For the greatest effect, the best place to reduce the mass is the conn-rods, wrist pins, & pistons.

Reducing the mass of the flywheel (or crank) cannot give higher HP readings on an engine dyno (or the dyno operator is doing it wrong)
(let the flames begin :-)"


I thought that my statement would have started a larger debate.
It started a shitstorm on my other car forum when I suggested that a lightweight driveshaft or crank pulley would make no noticeable difference in performance - OTHER THAN the effect of removing the weight from the car in general.